2. In this writing, the writer tries to
analyze the use of symbol and
women empowerment in the poem
“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou. The
purpose of this writing is to
understand the use of symbol in the
poem and the empowerment for
women itself. The writing will use
the theories of symbolism,
empowerment and also using the
method of close reading. From the
analysis of women empowerment,
hopefully everyone can feel inspired
by the poem.
Keywords : Still I Rise, Women
Empowerment, Maya Angelou
Abstract
3. Introduction
Laurence Perrine in her book “Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry” (1969:3) defined poetry as
a kind of language that says more and says it more intensely than does ordinary language.
4. Maya Angelou was born as
Marguerite Johnson on April 4th,
1928, in St. Louis, Missouri and
raised in St. Louis and Stamps,
Arkansas. Maya Angelou became
one of the most renowned and
influential voices of our time. With
over 50 honorary doctorate degrees
Dr. Maya Angelou became a
celebrated poet, memoirist,
educator, dramatist, producer,
actress, historian, filmmaker and
civil rights activist. With more than
30 bestselling titles, Maya Angelou
has written 36 books. She died in
2014, in the age of 86.
Maya Angelou
5. You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
6. Because of the oppression that
women experienced, especially
oppression on black women, this
poem is an inspiration for those
who are struggling with it. With
all the empowerment within the
poem, readers will be inspired
that they too should rise
everytime they fall.
Paraphrase
7. S
Y
M
B
O
L
The “dirt” symbolize something that people generally stepped on /
disrespectful things. “dust" is a light particle and can be carried
out easily by the wind.
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, i rise
"Oil" symbolize something precious and "living room" symbolize
that it was something in within or comes from within.
‘Cause i walk like i’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room
’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard
"gold mines" symbolize something precious and rich meanwhile
"backyard" means that it is within the area of the person
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
"diamonds" also represent something precious and valuable in
which also indicates that what makes someone a woman is precious
and valuable in the following line "at the meeting of my thighs"
8. W E
O M
M P
E O
N W
E
R
M
E
N
T
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Through all the lies and bully, she will rise as light as the dust being carried away by
the wind and she will not give up.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Her hope is as high as the moon and the sun and it is as certain as the tides that always
comes to the shore. No boundaries will tie it down.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
The words that people said do not matter, the lies and mock they said is nothing and
their stare when they doubt her also means nothing. Because regardless of all the hate
that she receives, regardless of all the bully, she will still rise, as light as the air.
9. W E
O M
M P
E O
N W
E
R
M
E
N
T
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
The history of shame that loomed over her and the past that filled with
pain did not stop her. Like the black wide ocean that bear the tide on its
own and that she will keep rising regardless of all the things that bring her
down.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
She believes that there is a bright future for her when she is no longer suffer and
enslaved. She will rise to that bright future and leaves all her fear behind because
she will be free.
10. Conclusion
After analyzing the use of symbol and also the women empowerment in “Still I Rise” it is clear that what Maya
Angelou truly wanted to say is that no matter how painful our past was, no matter how many people hurt us
either with their words or acts we must not give up. Because there is a bright future for women when we are
no longer captivated by what other people thinks or said.
